Testimony Wk 1

Introduction

What is a testimony: A first hand experience.

If you know Jesus, you have a testimony and God IS writing your story and your story matters.

Don’t compare your OWN testimony to others! Your testimony doesn’t suck according to God. He sent His Son to save your soul and He knew what He was doing when and how he bought you out of the bondage of sin and darkness.

Your testimony matters to God because it is God who saved you and it is Him who gets the glory

Written by John on the Island of Patmos. He writes letters to 7 churches, in chapter 4 he gets caught up into the heavenlies and he sees a picture of what is, what was, and what is to come.

In Revelation Chapter 12 in the midst of this war we are picking it up.

Read Revelation 12:7-8

Revelation 12:7–8 ESV

Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven.

Here’s what you need to know coming out of REACH WKND. We are at war! And our battle isn’t against flesh and blood. We have an enemy and he is a thief. He is trying to take something that isn’t his. There is a heavenly battle, an eternal battle that has been going on and Lucifer tried to take over what wasn’t his. He wanted God’s throne. It’s a heavenly battle and what started in the heavenlies has spilled over into our planet right now. And since the enemy can’t take out God, he is going to try and take out what God loves most and what He loves most is His image bearers.

Everything God creates, the enemy tries to corrupt.

God’s not into rules, He is into a relationship. He gave all of these commands in the beginning and all of them were positive. “Be fruitful and multiply” “Subdue and cultivate”. There is one thing that I ask you not to do. And the serpent comes up to deceive and corrupt. What he wants to do is take what God has done and twist it. And there are three things that the enemy is trying to get you to doubt. The Word of God, the Work of God, and the Worth of God. “Did God really say?” “Does God really mean what He says in the Bible?” He wants you to doubt the work of God. What is the work of God? The finished work of Jesus on the cross for our sins. This is like when I talk about what salvation is and I say Do you believe that when Jesus died on the cross it counted for you and for some reason in your head you hear “He doesn’t mean you he means everyone else.” The worth of God: If God really loved you, wouldn’t he treat you better? Wouldn’t he give you your hopes and dreams?

Read Revelation 12: 9

Revelation 12:9 ESV

And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.

Satan also has 3 tactics of the enemy: The lust of the flesh, The lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. You want to war against the enemy? Identity which of the 3 you’re most likely to fall into and pay attention to that! Lust of the eyes is when you see a thing and you believe that thing is going to satisfy you. Lust of the flesh is where you think “I gotta feel a thing” This is when you begin to convince yourself that you deserve to feel a certain way. Pride of life: I am going to be somebody I am going to make a name for myself. This has been going on since the beginning. And the reason is because Satan hates God but he can’t touch God so he is going to try and take out what God loves and that’s you and me.

Read Revelation 12:10

Revelation 12:10 ESV

And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God.

This is when the Word came down and dwelled among us. This is when Jesus comes on a rescue mission for us. When the shepherd leaves the 99 to come and get the 1. Salvation has COME! And one of Satan’s primary tactics: he is an accuser. He will show up in your brain even while you’re at church and say “Who do you think you are?” If the person sitting next to you knew what you were doing last night and what you were thinking, do you think they would let you in here? He stands before God and accuses us. And his primary tactic of accusation is called condemnation. You ever feel like you’re not good enough? you don’t measure up? Like this overwhelming sense of heavy guilt every time you come to church? That’s not the language of the heavenly Father. Condemned is a building term and it means: unfit for use.

What the enemy wants you to do is define yourself by your past. He wants you to define yourself by your scars. He wants you to believe that thing that you did, you can never be forgiven of, and it defines you forever and it determines your future. Therefore, you are UNFIT FOR USE. You see the apostle Paul wrestling with this in Romans chapter 7. He’s like what is my problem? I mean I have been a Christian for 15 ish years now. I would like to believe I would be a lot further along in my faith journey than I am right now. You ever look at yourself and think “What is wrong with me?” He says the bad things I don’t want to do I can’t stop doing those, but the good things I have promised to do I haven’t done. And he asked the question “Who would save a wretch like me?!” and he answers his own question “praise be God the Father for Jesus Christ my savior who came for MY salvation” Jesus knew exactly what He was getting when He paid for me. And then He continues in Romans 8. This is the answer to the enemy when He tries to lie to you. For therefore now there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

When the enemy comes at you and tries to accuse you, you better have Romans 8:1 memorized to speak back to him! Even in my crooked and messed up situation Jesus sought after me, came for me, died for me, and calls ME His blood bought son! What you have to say about that?! Then at the end of Romans 8:31-39

Romans 8:31–39 ESV

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Remember, everything God creates…the enemy corrupts. In the NT there are these lists of dangerous sins. And in every one of these lists a few things always show up. Gossip and slander. Wait a second: swindling, murder, sexual sin, and gossip and slander is in that same dangerous list? What?! What God created your mouth for was to give Him glory and to lead others to Jesus. And the enemy corrupts it and wants to take that very thing and spew out hate about other people where you’re not the problem or the solution and you’re going to make up lies about other people. When you’re out there pointing your finger at others and saying “I can’t believe THAT person would do THAT” You might just be participating with the accuser speaking hate towards someone that God paid with the blood of His Son to purchase.

BIG VERSE: Read Revelation 12:11

Revelation 12:11 ESV

And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.

Here is the ingredients to conquering Satan: with the blood of the lamb (the activity of Jesus), by the word of your testimony, and by the attitude of the church.

Jesus takes the disciples to Philippi and one of the god’s there was the god of sex (Pan) and there was some really shady stuff going on there. And there was a cave near the temple that all of this was going on. Philippi was like Vegas (what happens in Philippi stays in Philippi). But there was a cave there that would spew water and sometimes it would steam up and the people believed it to be the gates to the underworld. Jesus stood there and asked “who do you think that I am?” And Peter gets it right “You are the Christ” Jesus changes his name to “Rock” and He says upon this rock I will build my church. He didn’t mean Peter, but the public declaration that Jesus is the Christ the Son of the living God. And upon this rock I will build my church and the gates of hell won’t prevail against it! We have an enemy and the enemy is going to try and take us out, and the church will prevail over the enemy. HOW?!

1.) The blood of the lamb.

Another way to say that is The Gospel. Because God is holy and just, all sin must be paid for. If God overlooks sin, it would make him an unjust judge. Hebrews 9: 22

Hebrews 9:22 ESV

Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.

Why? This seems random…it’s because we don’t understand the severity of sin. Like we don’t think it’s that big of a deal. As Christians we don’t even sin anymore…we struggle. When was the last time you were in bible study and said “hey guys pray for me I’m sinning.” No we say “pray for me I’m just struggling.” That’s not a struggle its a sin. We sin. And sin has consequences. It deserves death. When you sin against the sovereign king you deserve judgment. THIS IS A BIG DEAL. Every time we sin, it creates a DEATH DEBT that we owe God. So, in the OT God sets up a sacrificial system. And all throughout the year there were sacrifices made, but the big one was this day called “the day of atonement”. Atonement means payment. and every year there is going to be a payment for your death debt. And everybody who believes in God would bring a perfect spotless lamb, go into this room called the Holy of holies where the presence of God was and the law of God was. And he would sprinkle that blood on the broken law of God. And he would make an announcement that your sins were paid for by the blood of the lamb until next year. And they did this every year, but it was foreshadowing what was to come! And then about 2000 years ago, Jesus of Nazareth shows up on the scene and this guy John the baptist is saying “repent and be baptized, prepare the way of the Lord” and then one day his second cousin Jesus shows up and he says “Behold, the lamb of God who has come to take away the sin of the world.” Here is why this is a big deal. Not ANOTHER lamb of God that will take away sin until next time. But THE lamb of God that would take away the sin of the entire world for ANYONE who would believe. He lived and fulfilled every promise in the OT and then was arrested, tried, and was killed on a roman cross. And the blood of the lamb is shed to take away the sin of anyone who would believe. And he pushes up on his feet on the cross and says “tetelestai” or “it is finished” What is finished? The blood death debt has been paid for you and me! Literally it means “paid in full”.

The power of God IS the gospel. Jesus came to put sin to death, to reestablish His kingdom and His church to advance that Kingdom.

2.) By the word of their testimony.

What’s incredible is that in the same sentence (only separated by a coma) is Christ’s finished work on the cross AND your participation in it. By the word of THEIR testimony. That God is writing your story! Why is this important? Romans 10:9-13

Romans 10:9–13 ESV

because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Two weekends ago 16 people made that profession of faith in Jesus. And in just a few minutes I am going to give you an opportunity to do that.

Romans 10:14–15 ESV

How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”

How are we going to overcome? By the blood of the lamb and the word of your testimony. There is this dumb quote that gets thrown around all the time. “Preach the gospel at all times, and use words only if necessary.” Alright…they are always necessary. You can’t just be nice. You should always be nice, but you can’t just do a nice thing for someone…you can’t just pick up someones trash in the lunch room and that person think…wow how nice: I need a savior. That’s not how that works. Colossians 1:24-27

Colossians 1:24–27 ESV

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

What was lacking at the cross? The finished work of Jesus was enough for salvation, the thing that is lacking is taking that message to people that haven’t heard that good news yet. The unfinished work of the church and this student ministry is taking that good news to the people that don’t believe it yet. Starting with the people that you’re writing on the white ping pong balls that you’re praying for an opportunity to share Christ with and ultimately to the unreached people groups all over the world.

Acts 1:8 ESV

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

We want a bunch of spirit empowered testimonies shared. Because sometimes you can get all jacked up and go attack the people in Chic fil a down the road right after church tonight. That’s not what we are doing here. You and I should begin PRAYING for opportunities. “Because the blood of the lamb, would you give me an opportunity to open my mouth and tell my first hand experience about you.” If you’re thinking “well I don’t know how to do that” well we practiced it at REACH WKND on Saturday but NEXT WEEK that’s what we are going to do okay? Don’t miss it! It’s going to be like a lab.

3.) They loved not their lives even unto death.

Then there is an attitude you have to have. “They loved not their lives even unto death.” The finished work of Jesus on the cross for our salvation. The unfinished work of taking the gospel to our neighbors to the nations. AND the attitude of the believer. The word in greek for our word testimony is the same root word where we get our word martyr which means to “to give your life for”. Because the understanding in the first century was that as they were a witnesses with their mouths the world was going to hate them. They understood they had an enemy! All throughout church history it was never understood to associate Christianity with Comfort. What have you signed up for? Do you realize that the moment you confessed Jesus Christ as your savior you’ve signed up for war. The good news is we aren’t fighting FOR victory but FROM victory. You know what the American church loves? Comfort and Convenience. You know where revival is breaking out in the world right now? Places like afghanistan. They love not their lives even to die. When John is writing this he is on an island named Patmos left to die. While he is penning this people dying for their faith is already happening. All of the apostles were killed because they wouldn’t take back their faith in Jesus. They couldn’t deny what they had seen and heard. During this time Christians were being burned alive.

If you want a live of luxury and convenience. Don’t follow Jesus. Jim Elliott who was martyred for the faith said this “He is no fool who gives up what he cannot gain, to gain what he cannot lose.” We spend so much time trying to grab onto things that we can’t keep. What are we afraid of? What people think. I don’t want to be seen as one of those crazy people. Or an awkward conversation. Or am I allowed to do this?

Land the Plane

What I’m trying to get us to do here is help you see the eternal life. We are living in a cosmic eternal battle that has already been won. This is what’s amazing. This is very personal! What if this is also about the salvation moment too? The thing that God wants to do THROUGH you, first and foremost He wants to do it TO you. That’s what a witness is. That’s what a testimony is. Remember the definition of a testimony? A first hand experience. You can’t witness about something that you didn’t witness or experience for yourself. The thing God wants to do through the church of taking the gospel to your friends and to the nations first has to be done in you. By the blood of the lamb: Have you come to a place in your life that Jesus came on a rescue mission for you and He didn’t simply die FOR you He died INSTEAD of you. And on the cross when He said it is finished that you believe that counted for you. Maybe today this is the first time that you believe that. Awesome. Then let’s do Romans 10:9 and confess Him as Lord and Savior of your life. And in that moment you become saved and part of the family of God forever.

Bow your heads, close your eyes. You admit today that you are a sinner that you need a savior. Like your way ain’t working. And you believe today that Jesus came on a rescue mission for me. And when He said paid in full part of that was for me. And in this moment you’re ready to place your faith and trust in Jesus for your salvation.